HERE AND THERE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20044, 6 September 1920, Page 6

HERE AND THERE

Official returns shows that no*. «'bo by l " ( r llt,on 280 and other aliens ' hj^ rmruis : Austrians husband’s naiion ; ilitv^n' iCClUlroC i to their British ffi. W ° rcadmi^d ful J Utop?or ta U erLd f S° illclu f sion of * frequently been discussed another instance ilhisti nii-'o- 41 10 • 13 Wien Lord tho management of th/fWr n’® 1 ' into the railway ofl£' at'V-« Vra ' lkeil ami, after a lot of oaioWM? 1 ' man m charge into sending the follow"S tdegram to Lord feLauehmi v” “John Smith here. fiav" d? i yours. Wants pass Mon troll must walk otherwise. Shall I f ss s ua “ bon’t L ° r Tnf r' SIUC n y M Wire(l b ack • wont. Let him walk” Bui- : elegraph people loft out. tho slop, ami aRer T 'all fi ° fc " S fre ° paßß to Montreal N ? uso ?i tb< r famous Arctic ex-«-:’+i 18 KIU< Dob to , re fi ar( f the figured Jo.uith any superstitious awo. T-Tk /, or ti v. s , he explains ns .follows': < Jho r ra.ni/' ho said, “ou. which I made my most, successful Polar voyage earned a. crow of thirteen men. i left my ship on my dash to the, Polo over tho sea ico on March 13, 1895. My ship broke loose from the pack on. August 13, 1896. Tho .first thing I heard when j. rejoined her was that my favourite hitch, Kirk, had given birth to thirteen pups on December 13. Finally, tho Edinburgh Geographical Society’s banquet, at which I was entertained on my return to civilisation, was, tho_ thirteenth anniversary dinner of that institution, and was hold on February 13. Since then I have ceased to attach any importance to tho thirteen superstition.” The alarming increase in rates of pay m Britain is referred to in a, written reply by Dr Maenamara, who states that skilled men in some trades have bad increases in wages of 220 to 300 per cent, since July, 1914. In many eases, Dr Macnamara says, the rates of wages have bqen approximately doubled. Some unskilled grades have received advances averaging nearly 200 per cent, while classes of men in a. few industries have had even greater increases. From such information as is available it would appear that tho average increase over the pre-war recognised rates in all industries taken together lies between 130 and 150 per cent. Tho hours of labour have, however, been materially reduced during the past eighteen months, and if tho percentage figure above given werei quoted on hourlyfates,*it would, 1 am advised, be considerably higher. Tho cost of maintaining unchanged tlie prewar standard of living of the working classes is estimated to have increased about 142 per cent between July, 1914, and tho beginning of May. and tho figure for the present date will be somewhat, higher (probably little short of 150 per. cent) owing to the recent increases in coal and sugar prices. ’Which, gives one furiously to think, as Pepvs might say. ■ The new Agriculture Bill drafted by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries has been formally introduced by Sir A. Griffith-Boscaweu in the House of Commons. The measure makes extensive and important amendments ib the Act of 1917, especially in regard to temirci and tenants’ posed to give a guarantee for wheat and eats based ou the minimum price for , the standard year (1919) of 68s per quarter for wheat and 46s per quarter for oats. Widely increased powers are proposed to order landlords to execute repairs; tenants arc secured further .against loss consequent on eviction, and it is made more difficult to secure orders for eviction.- When tenants are compulsorily evicted they may recover up te the valua of four years’ rent. Compensation for improvements by tenants is also increased, and there are various clauses arranging lor arbitration between landlords and tenants; in fact, tlio Bill may ho described ns a new charter for farmersThe Rotery Club of London is peculiarly suited te tackle the “jobs for demobbed” proposition. The club is of some 800 members, each representing ■ a different trade or profession, and Is connected with twentyfive other Rotary Clubs, scattered throughout the British Isles. The chib has formed itself into a number of subcommittees. Every London Rotnrian is,being conscripted to servo upon tho sub-committee that will deal with ” demobbed ” men who have had experience in' his _ particular section of business. The primary work of each sub-commit-tee is to approach employers of labour in tho class to which it belongs and got them te send along details of vacant, jobs. It will then undertake to find men to fit these Jobs. The Rotary, Club of London apparently realises there are some hundreds of good men amongst tho “ demobbed ” who would ho assets to cither tho business or the labour world at the present time’. And, being employers of labour themselves, they appreciate the futility of attempting to fit square men info round, holes. Mr Kennedy Jones in his hook “ Fleet) Street and Downing Street,” tells a. story of tho remarkable ignorance of business methods shown by Mr Arthur Walter, tho former famous editor and proprietor of “The Times” newspaper. For years, it seems, he had never employed a manager, until Mr Mobefly Bell was appointed to tho post. The) latter at once suggested that a balancesheet should be prepared, in order to ascertain exactly hbw the business stood, and to this Mr Walter agreed. When it was done, ho personally submitted it to proprietor. Mr Walter scrutinised it carefully, and am he laid it down, exclaimed: “How extraordinary! How very extraordinary 1” “In what way, sir?” asked Mr Bell. “ Perhaps you did not notice, ’ but tho totals on each side exactly correspond.” 1 At o. mass meeting of technical teachers in the London area- it was decided to press for an immediate revision of their salaries. A resolution . was _ adopted pointing out the difficult position oi technical teachers in consequence of the 'increase in the cost of living and the delay in proceeding with, the constitution ' of a- Burnham Committee for technical teachers, and asking the Education Committee of the London County Council to receive a deputation from the As- | socintioii of Teachers in Technical Institutions on the present position ot technical teachers in London. A. fmther resolution was passed urging the adoption of the following minimum scale of salaries, with a. sntoteutial increase in the case of teachers in the London area:—Assistants, £3OO .to £-600 in ten years; principal assistants. £4OO to £7OO in ton years. Heads of departments, three grades, according to work and responsibility; (a) £SOO te £7OO in five years; fli') £6OO to £BOO in fire years; (c) £BOO to £IOOO in four years. Mr Samuel Gompors was rc-clccted president of the American Federation of Labour at the Federation’s convention.. m Montreal. Only one delegate voted against him. Z\lr James Duncan was elected vice-president. Although Mr Gompers protested, his salary was 1 raised from £2OOO to £2400. Tho salary i of Mr Morrison, the secretary, was also raised from £ISOO to £2OOO, and organisers’ allowances were raised from £9 to £lO and their hotel expenses increased from 10s to £1 12s daily. After a, stormy session tho Federation endorsed the adhesion of the*'" United States to the League of Millions without reservations. The .Irish, sympathisers opposed this action.